Tech Product News

Published Online: Wednesday, October 12, 2011

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Aprexis Platform

Marketed by: Aprexis Health Solutions

A new software platform puts medication adherence research into action, providing user-friendly tools that help pharmacists deliver billable medication therapy management (MTM) services. Aprexis Health Solutions’ Web-based clinical toolset guides pharmacists through each phase of the medication review process, from drafting and implementing a medication action plan to receiving payment in exchange for services provided. The system is fully integrated—patients’ data can be uploaded from an electronic health record or pharmacy data, and its reporting capabilities enable pharmacies and health plans to document the delivery of MTM services. The platform can also be used to handle administrative tasks, such as scheduling medication reminders or future consultations, allowing pharmacists to focus on the patient.

Knowing what to expect at doctors’ appointments is critical for patients with chronic diseases. Pharmacists can recommend CareCoach, a free program that records conversations between patients and physicians and catalogs them by condition. This patient empowerment strategy is broken down into 5 components: Listen, Prepare, Participate, Review, and Share. Each stage features tools to help patients make the most of every appointment. With the CareCoach mobile app, patients can record and securely store a permanent transcript of their entire visit for future reference. For those concerned about HIPAA compliance, Verilogue says it takes privacy “very seriously” and addresses confidentiality issues in its detailed privacy policy at http:// phrmcyt.ms/noYvOm.

Critical Path Institute, a nonprofit focused on speeding drug development, launched a simple mobile app that encourages patients to keep track of their medications, including prescription and OTC drugs, dietary supplements, and vitamins. To use the app, patients enter medicines, prescribers, and associated pharmacies for themselves or a family member. The resulting record can be printed or e-mailed to share with a pharmacist, who can screen for adverse reactions and drug–drug interactions. MyMedsList is compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad, and is available to download in the iTunes store for $0.99. Patients without a smartphone can visit www.mymedslist.org to create a similar personal medication record.